Fort Collins – With barely three weeks remaining in its annual spring fundraising campaign, Colorado State is more than $600,000 short of its $1.85 million goal. A chart in the lobby of the McGraw Athletic Center shows the drive at just over $1.2 million.

“We need to give people reason for wanting to give,” said athletic director Paul Kowalczyk, who will complete his first month on the job Saturday. “We’re going to work at it. That’s not a solution in the short term; that’s something we’re going to have to work at and build over time.”

The school raised $1.74 million a year ago, of which $1.48 million was cash donations. A Denver Post survey of Mountain West Conference state schools revealed CSU was at the bottom of the league in raising funds in 2005.

Kowalczyk hasn’t had much time to make an impact. He was named to the post in late April and arrived May 17.

“This institution has a historical culture of not giving perhaps as much as other institutions and that’s something we have to address as a university, not just athletics,” he said.

Kowalczyk said he was encouraged by the 15 percent of Ram Club members who increased their donation. Football season ticket sales have passed the 9,200 mark and should match last year’s 9,600 total.

The school did not pick up the option with the ad agency that created the much-ridiculed “Let’s Go RAMin’ ” campaign last summer.

Other than not having enough hours in the day, Kowalczyk has no complaints about his new post. This week he began discussing scheduling philosophies with his coaches.

Football has an opening in each of the next two years. The Rams have played at least two schools from BCS conferences in all but one year since 1999. Colorado and Cal are on the schedule the next two seasons.

While CSU football coach Sonny Lubick has long stated a preference for playing schools on an equal or lesser budgetary footing, Kowalczyk said, “I’d like to think we can play some Pac-10 and Big 12 schools as well as those from the Western Athletic Conference.”

Football update

Lubick confirmed third-team running back Tramell McGill is doubtful for the fall because of academic difficulties. McGill, a third-year sophomore, showed promise in the spring as a speed back. Incoming freshman John Mosure of Miami will get a chance to play early. Backup defensive back Michael Myers will move to running back. Also, running back Nnamdi Ohaeri, who had hoped to move to the defensive secondary, is doubtful for the season after having foot surgery.

Footnotes

The on-campus football locker room is on schedule to reopen July 1. Crews will begin installing the new turf at Hughes Stadium next week, with an Aug. 1 completion date on schedule. … Kansas State, with new men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, will play at Moby Arena on Dec. 2. CSU coach Dale Layer said he still has two open dates.

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